Valve for water-tanks



C. W. ARNDT.

VALVE FOR WATER TANKS.

APPLlcAloN ULEB Avans. 1915.

l 959 a. @'9, v Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

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CHARLES AW. ARDT, OF I-IUTCI-IINSON, KANSAS.

`VALVE FOR WATER-TANKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

Application led August 25, 1915. Serial No. 47,307.

To all whom z5 may concern: Y

Be it known that I, CHARLES W.V ARNDT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hutchinson, in the county ofReno and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and Vuseful Improvements in Valves for Water-Tanks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the subject ofl water distribution and has particular reference to a novel valve device for use in connection with tanksV for supplying water to railway locomotives. 1

In general, the present invention has in view a novel and practical form of valve capable of being used in connection with the type of tank and valve operating mechanism shown in my Patent .No. 1,093,165, dated April 14, 1914:, and capable of being substituted for the type of valve therein disclosed when desired,.or required not only to meet certainrconditions of use, but at the same time to provide a simple valve device that operates as easily under pressure in the tank as does the valve shown in said patent. y

Therefore, another and importantobject of the invention including the foregoing general object is to provide 'a valve device involving a hinged valve head which may be easily actuated under the water pressure of the tank. The lmajority of valves now in use in connection with water tanks are in the natureof a piston and offer much resistance when being opened. That is to say, valves which include a stem and valve head resembling a plunger or piston, are difficult to unseat because under the high pressure of the water in the tank a great weight is imposed on the surface of the head which must be entirely and solely overcome by a lifting force on the valve stem in direct opposition tothe water pressure. The present constructionproposes to overcome the difliculty incident to the operation of this class of valves by utilizing a hinged valve head whereby the latter with its fulcrum constitutes in effecta wedge whereby the water pressure is deflected when the head is moved, rather than met by a counter-force in direct opposition thereto.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide a valve that is of substantial construction, and not easily disabled under usual service conditions, and which is also reliable and positive in its operation and capable of being easily manipulated by the fireman or engine-man.

With the above and other objects in view which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination vand arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in. which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View showing the application of the invention, and also the valve .operating mechanism therefor. Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the valve device. Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-*3 of Fig. 2.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

As previously indicated, the present valve device is of special utility in connection'with water. tanks of the kind generally employed on railways for supplying water to an engine tender along the road, and as will be observed from the drawing the reference letter T designates the tank in general having the outlet or discharge'pipe section A and movable discharge pipe section B, together with a suitable valve operating mechanism designated generally as C and which is shown in detail in my patent aforesaid.

Referring to the features of construction of the present valve, designated in its entirety by the reference V, it will be observed that the same essentially comprises a casing 1 4which is of substantially segmental or elbow form, and has at one end thereof an annular attaching flange 2 which enables the casing to be secured to the outlet pipe section A by suitable bolts or other fastening elements which hold the same to the bolting iiange 3 thereof. The end of the valve casing opposite theV attaching :[iange 2 is formed with another annular flange l which is disposed obliquely to the attaching flange 2 and constitutes a valve seat for the valve head 5. The said valve head 5 when closed to cover the inlet end of the valve casing rests upon a rubber or equivalent gasket 6 detachably clamped to the valve seat flange 4 by means of suitable fastening elements 7, and carries `at one side thereof a hinge arm this connection, it will also be noted that the under face of the valve head 5 is provided with a curved guide arm 13 which 1s plvotally connected as at 14 with the actuating rod 11 within the outlet pipe A. This guide 13 is preferably of the same curvature as the bottom Wall of the valve casing l, and slides in a guide formed by a pair of spaced lugs 15 located adjacent the inlet end of the valve casing. The provision of this guide arm and lug materially strengthens the valve, adds to its durability, and makes the same more serviceable, since it has a tendency to steady the valve head under the enormous water pressure contained in the tank. That is to say, as the pressure of water in a tank of this character is relatively high, the same is likely to twist or turn the valve head laterally on its pivot so that it will easily become broken or otherwise damaged and not seat properly on the gasket 6 of the valve seat. However, as the guide arm 13 is of suiicient length to permit the valve head to uncover the inlet end of the valve casing to the maximum required extent, without leaving the guides, the end of the head farthest from the hinge connection is always steady, and rendered capable of accurately seating on the gasket when it is desired to cut oif the water supply. With further reference to the operation of the valve device, it will be noted that the casing 1 is provided with an air vent connection 16 which serves to admit air to the discharge pipe when the valve is closed so as to cause the casing and discharge pipe to drain more quickly.

In view of the structural characteristics and nature of the present valve device, it will be apparent that the same may be readily substituted for the type of valve shown in my aforesaid patent, and that owing to its simplicity, durability and novel arrangement of parts, the same may be utilized at a minimum cost of maintenance. Furthermore, the valve head positively cuts off the water supply, since the pressure of the water within the tank normally holds the valve head seated, thus insuring the tight fit between the head and valve seat and preventing unnecessary waste or leakage.

It will also be observed that owing to the oblique disposition of the valve hea-d, and its hinged connection With the valve casing, the same may be easily lifted from its seat, because the column of water in the tank above the head is exerting its downward force or pressure on an oblique surface.

Thus, as the operating connection for the valve head is at a diametrically remote point from the hinge and the pressure on the head is exerted at an angle thereto, it will be clear that the valve may be readily unseated. After the same is unseated the out-rushing water will tend to have a slightly buoyant effect on the head. Although, this buoyancy is by no means suficient to hold the valve open without the operating rod, it is enough, however, to reduce some of the Water pres= sure exerted directly on the head as the same is pushed out to ahorizontal position by the operating rod.

From the foregoing description, it is so thought that the many features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent, and it will also be understood that changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims.

I claim: r

1. In a. valve device for water tanks, the combination with a tank having a horizontal discharge pipe located therein, and an actuating lever operable in the discharge pipe, of a segmental valve casing secured to the inner end of said pipe, said segmental casing having a valve seat at its open end obliquely disposed with respect to the discharge pipe, forked guide means carried by the inner face of said valve casing, a valve head hinged externally of the valve casing at one side of the valve seat, and a rigid curved guide projection carried by the under side of the valve head opposite the hinging point thereof, said projection being pivotally connected to the actuating rod and slidable in the forked guide means on the valve casing.

2. In a valve device for Water tanks, the combination with a` tank having a horizontal discharge pipe located therein, and an actuating lever operable in said pipe, of a segmental valve casing also located within the tank and having one end secured to the discharge pipe and the other end providing a valve seat, spaced upstanding guide lugs carried by the inner face of said casing, an exterior hinge standard projecting upwardly from said casing, and a valve head hinged to said standard and having a rigid guide projection pivotally connected with the ac-Y tuating rod and Slidably engaging with the guide lugs on the interior of the valve casing.

3. In a valve device for water tanks, the combination with a tank having a horizontal discharge pipe projecting intoY the interior 12u of the tank and having an exterior discharge end, and an actuating lever operable within said pipe, of a segmental valve casing secured to the end of the discharge pipe withi1 die tank and having a valve seat, up- 180 standing guide lugs carried by the inner face of the valve casing, an upstanding hinge standard carried by the exterior of the valve casing, it valve head having a hinged connection with said standard, and a rigid guide arm carried by the under face of said valve head and pivotally Connected With said actuating lever, said rigid guide arm CHARLES W. ARNDT. Witnesses C. E. BLODEN, PETER J. MAGUNI.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

